Dorant House marks milestone anniversary

AN ALMSHOUSE in St Albans celebrated 30 years of good work and community spirit with a garden party attended by 80 friends and residents.

Dorant House in New Greens Avenue was opened on October 18 in 1980 by the then-Mayor, Cllr Colin Curl, and is run by the Charity L A Dorant for Almshouses, which was established in 1976.

The 19 flats give people of limited means living in the district a home and allows them to live as part of a tightly-knit community. Residents regularly attend social events or assist each other with shopping trips. Currently there are 18 flats occupied and Helen Green is the oldest resident at 98, whilst Tom Walsh is the youngest at 57.

The garden party, which was attended by four of the original people from the opening in 1980, included live music and cream teas as well as an address from the Deputy Mayor of St Albans, Cllr Beric Read, and the Chairman of the Almshouse Association, Simon Pott.

Lionel Dorant was an estate agent and auctioneer who owned a number of houses in St Albans. When he died he left the interest on his fortune to his two half-sisters and upon the death of the last one, an almshouse was set up for the poor of the city.